Mr. Ranking on the Ruins of Palenqiie, 13? 



see that it had a similar chamber and corridor with those on 

 the east. The south side has only four small chambers, with 

 nothing but two little windows, like those described above. 



The western side corresponds to its opposite in all respects, 

 except the variety of expression of the figures in stucco ; these 

 are much more rude and ridiculous than the others, and can 

 only be attributed to the most uncultivated Indian capacity. 

 The device is a mask with a crown and long beard, like that of 

 a goat ; under this are two Greek crosses, the one delineated 

 in the other, as appears in Fig. 1*, Proceeding in the same 

 direction, there is another court, somewhat similar to the last. 

 Some pillars yet remain, on which are relievos, alluding to the 

 sacrifice of some wretched Indian. I have transported from 

 this chamber the stucco head of the sufferer, (Fig. 8.) and the 

 foot and leg of the sacrificer, (Fig. 11.) There is a tower on 

 the south side, (Fig. 12.) ; its height is sixteen yards, and to the 

 four existing stories there has, perhaps, been a fifth with a 

 cupola. These piles diminish in size, and are without orna- 

 ment, yet the design is singular and ingenious. There is an 

 interior tower, quite plain, with windows to give light to the 

 steps by which you ascend to the summit. A solid body 

 passes through the centre of the tower, from which the earth 

 and stones slipped down, and prevented us from excavating 

 more than three yards. 



Behind the above four chambers, there are two others, 

 larger, and well ornamented in the rude Indian style, and 

 appear to have been oratories. Among the embellishments are 

 some enamelled stuccos, (Figs. 13 and 14 ;) the Grecian heads 

 represent sacred objects, to which they made their offerings, pro- 

 bably consisting of strings of jewels, as the attitudes denotef . 

 Beyond these oratories there are two apartments, each 27 yards 

 long and three broad, containing nothing but an elliptical stone 

 embedded in the wall, about a yard above the pavement, the 

 height of it is one yard and a quarter, the breadth a yard. At the 

 extremity of an apartment, on a level with the pavement, there 

 is an aperture like a hatchway, two yards long, and more than 

 one broad, leading to a subterranean passage, by a flight of steps, 



♦ Figure is used throughout the Spanish account for P/ate. 

 t Montezuma and Cortez put necklaces on each other ; it is a Mongul, or Mo^ul| 

 custom, for these two spellings are used by all wjriters iadifferently. 



